The Lunch Bunch: Mexican Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe

The Lunch Bunch: Mexican Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe

April 14, 2015October 15, 2019

Spring has sprung! Outdoor season for Chicago’s farmers markets is about a month away and already has me excited for all those sweet, fresh veggies. My fiancé and I fired up the grill last weekend for the first time this season, so for me, I’m officially in warm-weather mode. Who said we had to wait until Memorial Day for a kick-off BBQ?

I came up with this stuffed acorn squash recipe for next week’s lunch bunch since I’m already craving some of that crunch from summery red peppers and salads. The shredded chicken mixed with peppers, fresh tomatoes, beans and cilantro can be a perfect (crunchy) center to any meal. If you don’t have access to a microwave for lunch next week, don’t worry! This salad is just as tasty served cold! Simply find a mason jar, fill the bottom with the shredded chicken salad and top with avocado, extra tomatoes and greens for a perfect salad mix that will stay fresh in your fridge all week!

As you can see in the recipe’s name, I took a risk last week by trying out the combination of the buttery acorn squash with these tex-mex flavors. I liked the idea of using this squash as a “bowl” for our chicken salad to switch up the vibe and make our carbohydrate a bit more interesting. Also, I like to make things as easy as possible in my kitchen and acorn squash doesn’t take too much muslce to cut in half … promise! Each half of the acorn squash can be used as your first two lunches of the week and the warm, gooey texture pairs perfectly with the crunch from the Mexican chicken salad. I can tell you first hand from my kitchen – it’s pretty delicious.

Another big win with the acorn squash is that this vegetable is an especially high source of Vitamin C. I’m not sure if you’re experiencing allergy or cold symptoms like I am during this change of seasons, but I’m trying to take in as much of this vitamin as possible to keep my immune system strong!

The following is the recipe for my Mexican Stuffed Acorn Squash. I prepared my chicken on Sunday afternoon by following my slow cooker pulled chicken recipe (here). This allowed me to spend just 10 minutes on the chicken before heading off to work to let it cook while I was away – talk about easy meal prep! If you don’t have access to a crockpot, poaching chicken (simmering in a large pot of water) is another route to take. However, for safety you will need to be home and near the kitchen for this alternate cooking method while the stovetop is on. This chicken salad is warm and delicious stuffed into acorn squash, makes easy taco leftovers and stacks well into weekly jarred salads.

About Patty Duffey

Patty is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach in the Chicago area. She is Ohio bred and received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at Miami of Ohio, while continuing on the following year to complete her Dietetic Internship at Mount Carmel Hospitals in Columbus. Upon becoming an RD, Patty made the remarkable decision to work abroad in Australia for one year. She loved the active and healthy culture, and it seemed that most Aussies shared a common view that is was better to be proactive as opposed to reactive when it came to health and wellbeing. She knew that the health and fitness industry was exactly where she wanted to be. Since moving to Chicago three years ago, Patty has gained experience as a dietitian and nutrition coach at both Life Time Fitness and My Fit Foods. Her goal is to continue to build her health coaching skills as a nutrition entrepreneur. She currently works at Lululemon and loves working for a company where she can bring fitness and nutrition together in such an inspiring environment!